SHARP's Frequently Asked Questions

What and Why

Q: What is SHARP?

A: The Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) Surveillance System is an umbrella administration of the ONLY three student health surveys endorsed by the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS).

  • Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS): A survey of students from a random selection of Nebraska public schools in grades 9-12 that provides state-level data on key health behaviors that emerge during adolescence and can significantly impact students' academic success, wellbeing, and long-term health outcomes - including mental health, substance use, personal safety, physical activity, and general wellness factors that schools and communities can help address through targeted programs and support services.
  • Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS): A survey of students from a random selection of Nebraska public schools in grades 9-12 that provides state-level data on tobacco and nicotine use, including the use of e-cigarettes, among Nebraska's youth.
  • Nebraska Risk and Protective Factor Student Survey (NRPFSS): A survey of all students in public and non-public schools in grades 8, 10, and 12 that gathers local-level data related to substance use, delinquent behaviors, bullying, and risk and protective measures that predispose youth toward or protect them against problem behaviors that can be reported at the regional behavioral health authority, local health department, county, school district, or school building level.
Q: What surveys will students in my school be completing?

A: Schools are notified by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Bureau of Sociological Research as to which survey(s) they are eligible for.

  • For the YRBS and YTS statewide samples, schools are selected to participate in a manner that is designed to provide representative samples of Nebraska high school students, while all schools are eligible to participate in the NRPFSS. In addition, some schools are selected to participate in the YRBS to provide an oversample for their region. The sampling design ensures that all students throughout the state (or region in the case of a YRBS oversample) have an equal chance to participate in the YRBS and YTS. Larger schools have a higher chance of being selected because they have more students than smaller schools. Additional details on how the samples are selected are provided on the SHARP website: YRBS sampling design, YTS sampling design.
Q: When will the surveys be administered and when will reports be available?

A: Data collection will occur between August and December 2025. NRPFSS reports summarizing the results for school districts are expected to be available by May 2026. All other NRPFSS reports are estimated to be completed by Summer 2026. YRBS and YTS reports are expected to be completed by Summer 2026.

Q: Why should schools participate in the YRBS?

A: Schools selected to participate in the YRBS were selected to either represent Nebraska students (in the case your school was selected to participate in the statewide sample) to represent students in their region (in the case your school was selected to participate in a YRBS oversample). The involvement of these schools helps ensure Nebraska or your region receives accurate, representative state-level or regional data. If the selected schools choose not to participate in the YRBS, then we risk not having the data to inform us about Nebraska or regional youth health trends. Having representative state-level and regional data is used to…

  • secure grant funding to improve the health and wellness of Nebraska youth
  • identify emerging health concerns
  • guide health priorities and policies
  • direct prevention efforts
  • inform statewide committees and advisory boards on statewide health trends
  • educate communities on statewide health trends
  • counter misperceptions about peer behavior through the presentation of data in prevention messaging
  • assess impacts of policies and efforts implemented
  • inform statewide needs assessments
  • provide comparisons with local-level data
Q: Why should schools participate in the YTS?

A: Schools selected to participate in the YTS were selected to represent Nebraska students. The involvement of these schools helps ensure Nebraska receives accurate, representative state-level data. If the selected schools choose not to participate in the YTS, then we risk not having the data to inform us about Nebraska youth tobacco, nicotine, and vaping trends. Having representative state-level data is used to…

  • secure grant funding to address tobacco use and related behaviors of Nebraska youth
  • identify concerns related to youth tobacco use, such as vaping
  • guide youth tobacco-related policies, programming and prevention efforts
  • inform statewide committees and advisory boards on statewide health trends
  • educate the community on statewide health trends
  • counter misperceptions about peer behavior through the presentation of data in prevention messaging
  • assess impacts of policies and efforts implemented
  • inform statewide needs assessments
  • provide comparisons with local-level data
Q: Why should schools participate in the NRPFSS?

A: The NRPFSS provides local-level reports of the survey results free of charge that can be used by schools or local partners, such as local health departments or coalitions. The survey gathers data related to substance use, delinquent behaviors, bullying, and risk and protective measures that predispose youth toward or protect them against problem behaviors. NRPFSS data is used to…

  • secure grant funding to improve the health and wellness of Nebraska youth
  • inform school district strategic planning
  • guide school policy decisions
  • inform curriculum and program needs
  • direct prevention and intervention efforts to reduce substance abuse, delinquency and other problems while supporting improvements in health and learning
  • monitor student health and wellness
  • help with fulfilling state and federal reporting requirements
  • inform wellness committees, school boards, and community coalitions on local health trends
  • educate the community on local health trends
  • counter misperceptions about peer behavior through the presentation of data in prevention messaging
  • assess impacts of policies and efforts implemented
  • identify health priority areas
  • inform community needs assessments
Q: Who sponsors SHARP?

A:

  • Nebraska Department of Education (NDE)
  • Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS)
    • Division of Behavioral Health
    • Tobacco Free Nebraska

Data and reporting

Q: Who uses SHARP data?

A: Several state and local organizations use SHARP data; however, data is never shared by individual school or district unless your superintendent grants permission to do so, and individual students are never identifiable. Organizations that use the data include:

  • Nebraska Department of Education (NDE)
  • Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS)
  • Legislators
  • Statewide Groups and Coalitions
  • Local Health Departments, Organizations and Coalitions - organizations endorsing SHARP
Q: Can students be identified?

A: No, the surveys are collected anonymously, meaning no names are ever associated with survey answers. Survey administrators are also given instruction to ensure each student has their own personal space to complete the survey.

  • To protect student confidentiality, results are only shared if at least 10 students report something
Q: How is YRBS data reported?

A:

  • Results are only reported at the state level - never by individual school, district, or student
  • Data represents Nebraska youth as a whole, protecting school and student confidentiality
  • Individual student responses cannot be traced back to specific schools or students
  • Nebraska YRBS data is reported online in many formats including PowerPoint with figures, PDF with tables, user-friendly Infographics, and integrated with the School Health Profiles data that provides information about school policies and practices in the Adolescent Health Report
  • When data is available, reports show trends over time, differences between groups, and comparisons to the national average
Q: How is YTS data reported?

A:

  • Results are only reported at the state level - never by individual school, district, or student
  • Data represents Nebraska youth as a whole, protecting school and student confidentiality
  • Individual student responses cannot be traced back to specific schools or students
  • The Nebraska 2023 YTS report is available online
  • When data is available, reports show trends over time, differences between groups
Q: How is NRPFSS data reported?

A:

  • Results are available online at the county, health department, and behavioral health region level
  • School superintendents are provided school district-level reports, with school-level reports available if requested by the superintendent
  • Individual students are never identified. To protect student confidentiality, results are only shared if at least 10 students report something. If fewer than 10 students answer a question in the same way, that information is not included in the report
  • When data is available, reports show trends over time and differences between groups

Administration and content

Q: What questions are asked on the SHARP surveys?

A: The SHARP surveys ask age-appropriate questions about behaviors that research shows impact student health and academic success. Schools and parents can review the surveys in advance by accessing them on the SHARP website (YRBS questionnaire, YTS questionnaire, NRPFSS questionnaire), and students can choose not to participate or skip any questions they wish. Topics include:

  • School safety and bullying
  • Physical activity and sports participation
  • Nutrition and dietary habits
  • Mental health, including suicide
  • Substance use and related behaviors
  • Basic health practices and preventive care
  • Personal safety and behaviors related to violence
  • Factors affecting these behaviors and academic performance
Q: How do we share information about this survey with our parents and/or obtain their consent?

A:

Q: Who administers the SHARP surveys?

A: The Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln through a contract with NDE and NDHHS.

Q: How will the surveys be administered at my school?

A: A staff member from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Bureau of Sociological Research will coordinate with your school's designated contact person. This staff member will help:

  1. Select specific classrooms of students in grades 9-12 to take the YRBS or YTS. These surveys use random sampling to ensure accurate representation of Nebraska's student population.
  2. Administer the NRPFSS to all remaining students in grades 8, 10, and 12.

The UNL staff member will work with your school contact to determine which students should take each survey, schedule optimal survey dates, and ensure proper data collection. The surveys are administered as web surveys, but alternate accommodations can be made if requested.

Q: How much time is needed to administer the SHARP surveys?

A: The NRPFSS and YRBS are expected to take about 30 minutes for students to complete. The YTS is expected to take about 45 minutes for students to complete. Flexible scheduling options are available to accommodate school needs.

Q: What do schools need to do prior to the fall administration?

A:

  • School principals are asked to complete a brief 3 minute survey to indicate their school’s interest in participating in the 2025 SHARP administration.
  • After completing the survey, a contact from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR) will communicate with the school to schedule dates for administration of the surveys and gather any necessary information needed to prepare their materials. At this time, schools will be asked to provide: administration dates, contact information for the person(s) that will be coordinating administration of the survey(s) at their school, the number of students enrolled in each grade level, and a list of courses for sampling if selected for the YRBS or the YTS. BOSR will then prepare and email the contact person all of the necessary information they need in order to administer the surveys at their school. The surveys are administered as web surveys, but alternate accommodations can be made if requested.

Common concerns

Q: Why should we ask our students to complete a survey related to health-risk behaviors when we have no problems related to these behaviors in our school?

A: The SHARP surveys ask about all kinds of health behaviors, experiences and conditions. Several of the behaviors measured, such as those related to nutrition and physical activity, are relevant to all students. It might very well be true that students in your school are not engaging in risky behaviors; however, we cannot know for sure without asking students directly. It is possible that students in your school are indeed engaging in behaviors that put their health at risk, and if that is the case, administering SHARP helps you better understand the situation, which can be used to then develop policies, programs and activities to prevent these behaviors. We also need to know this information about all students across the state, including students who engage in healthy behaviors, as well as those who practice risky health behaviors. If your school is selected as part of the statewide sample for YRBS or YTS, we need your involvement to help us have information that is truly representative of students in Nebraska.

Q: Does asking students questions in a survey about health risk behaviors increase the likelihood that they will practice that behavior?

A: Asking students about previous experience with health behaviors does not influence those health behaviors. For example, studies conducted among adolescents in school settings found no evidence asking risk behavior questions related to suicide and sexual behavior led to an increase in those behaviors. Trend data from the YRBS indicate that the prevalence of many health risk behaviors has decreased since 1991, even though many students nationwide have taken surveys, including the YRBS, about health risk behaviors.

Q: How do we know the survey questions are valid and reliable?

A: Several research studies have been conducted to assess the quality of the surveys that have found the data to be creditable. In addition, cognitive testing is utilized on all new and revised questions to ensure students understand and are able to answer them.

Q: How do we know students will be honest and take the surveys seriously?

A:

  • Multiple research studies have validated that the data collected reliably reflects actual student behaviors
  • Research shows that when surveys are anonymous, students are more likely to provide honest responses
  • The survey environment, questionnaire design, and survey administration procedures help make students comfortable and most likely to tell the truth.
  • The surveys use proven data quality checks to identify responses that are inconsistent or unlikely to be truthful and students who provide obviously false or joking answers are removed from the final data analysis
Q: Will participating in the SHARP affect our federal funding?

A: According to the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, federal funding is impacted by policies that involve racial preferences or stereotypes in federally funded programs. The SHARP surveys do not involve racial preferences or stereotypes—they are voluntary, anonymous surveys designed to monitor health-related behaviors among youth.

Next Steps

Q: How do I sign our school up for administration of the SHARP?

A: The principal, or the person from the school who has the authority to make the decision about participation, should complete the brief School SHARP Interest Survey to initiate the process.

Q: Who can I contact for more information?

A: Email sharp@unl.edu for more information or call UNL’s Bureau of Sociological Research at 402-472-3672.